Royal Highnesses
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Mister Mayor,
It is a great pleasure to visit with the Grand Duchess your wonderful city. While passing through the streets, we are struck by the city’s beauty. The canals, bridges and tall, traditional houses seem to have been designed to charm and inspire at first sight.
In Amsterdam it is not only the urban design which is so characteristic. It is also the particular spirit for which the city stands for. Since the Golden Age, trade, art, democracy and freedom have characterize Amsterdam. They have given the old city a strong and powerful identity.
But everybody can witness changes that are taking place in the city’s new landscape. The challenge to transform old industrial areas on the waterfront to provide both working and living space deserves admiration. In its ongoing efforts to develop sustainable mobility concepts, in a search to increase the quality of life of its inhabitants, Amsterdam has earned a renowned reputation. I am glad to notice that thanks to the involvement of architects and companies from Amsterdam and Luxembourg in ongoing projects in both countries, mutual beneficial exchange of ideas and experiences are taking place.
Throughout the centuries, Amsterdam has been an attractive place for people of different origins and backgrounds. This cohabitation may not always be easy, but Amsterdam has shown the strength and the will in making their own motto that Rembrandt once said: "I do not care so much for honors as I do for liberty".
While the city and the country are celebrating the 400th birthday of Amsterdam’s most famous artist we are happy and pleased to include this exceptional exhibition in our program.
Mr. Mayor,
We highly appreciated this reception. I wish, with the Grand Duchess, for the city of Amsterdam and its people all the best for their future.